A coalition of African and Caribbean states has formally called for an official apology from former European colonial powers for the transatlantic slave trade, escalating a long-standing diplomatic campaign. The demand was issued during a summit of the African Union and the Caribbean Community in Addis Ababa, where leaders agreed to coordinate a unified legal and political strategy.
The joint declaration, released on Monday, argues that the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly displaced an estimated 12.5 million Africans over four centuries, constitutes a crime against humanity that requires formal acknowledgment and reparatory justice. The document stops short of specifying a monetary figure but insists that an apology must precede any broader discussion of reparations.
British Prime Minister James Whitaker, whose government has previously expressed regret but not a formal apology, faced renewed pressure from opposition MPs and human rights groups. Downing Street declined to comment on the specific demand, reiterating the UK’s commitment to addressing historical injustices through development aid and cultural partnerships.
France, which has also resisted calls for a state apology, saw its embassy in Accra targeted by demonstrators carrying placards reading "No Justice, No Peace." President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated that France acknowledges the “suffering inflicted” but considers a formal apology a matter for parliamentary debate.
The Caribbean nations of Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago have been particularly vocal, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley describing the demand as “a necessary step for healing and dignity.” The African Union’s chairperson, Moussa Faki, noted that the initiative would be tabled at the United Nations General Assembly later this year.
Legal experts argue that an apology could open the door to claims for compensation, though no court has yet ruled on the validity of such cases. The coalition has established a commission to document the economic and social impact of slavery’s legacy, including its role in contemporary racial inequality.
The British government maintains that its historical involvement in slavery has been addressed through the abolition of the trade in 1807 and subsequent emancipation acts. Critics, however, point to the lack of direct state acknowledgement as an evasion of moral responsibility.
The diplomatic standoff is expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where Queen Elizabeth II’s successor, King Charles III, may face calls for a royal apology. Buckingham Palace has not commented.
The demand has drawn comparisons to the formal apology issued by the Netherlands in 2022 for its role in slavery, a move that sparked debate within the Dutch government over the scope of reparative measures.
As the campaign gains momentum, the question remains whether former colonial powers will shift from expressions of regret to an unambiguous apology, a step that would carry both symbolic weight and potential legal consequences.